Houzz Tour: A Soviet Commune Home Gets a Modern Makeover
This constructivist gem gets refreshed with period materials and a compact, perfectly planned-out kitchen
The house-commune was a Soviet design that sought to transform utopian visions of communist life into brick and mortar. These buildings consisted of small, separate “cell apartments,” with most functional areas, like kitchens, shared between all tenants. The house-commune on Gogol Boulevard is a legendary piece of constructivist architecture, designed and built between 1929 and 1931 by a group of architects under the leadership of Moisei Ginzburg.
This home is in fact an adapted cell apartment. Its owner is well versed in art and modern design and moved here because of his interest in the history of the building. Therefore, when planning the renovation, architect Alireza Nemati respected the ideas of the original builders but adapted the space to modern needs.
This home is in fact an adapted cell apartment. Its owner is well versed in art and modern design and moved here because of his interest in the history of the building. Therefore, when planning the renovation, architect Alireza Nemati respected the ideas of the original builders but adapted the space to modern needs.
The client had already been living in this apartment before the renovation, but everything – from the walls to the electrical and water systems – had to be completely dismantled. The renovation started from scratch, though Nemati did, whenever possible, select finishes that are appropriate to the period when the home was built. Therefore, the work was sometimes very similar to a restoration project.
The highlights of the interior are its built-in features: A hidden kitchen, a laundry area and closets. Most of the furniture had to be designed in non-standard shapes and dimensions.
See how 5 rooms are contained inside this one compact unit
See how 5 rooms are contained inside this one compact unit
Apartment layout
First floor layout
The renovation maintained the traditional layout for commune cell apartments: A bathroom and a small hallway are located on the top floor, while the living area is downstairs.
The renovation maintained the traditional layout for commune cell apartments: A bathroom and a small hallway are located on the top floor, while the living area is downstairs.
The client wanted to use natural materials and neutral shades. Therefore, there is oak flooring throughout the apartment, including on the staircase treads. The staircase structure is made of wood in accordance with Ginzburg’s original drawings. The walls are painted with white water-based paint to give a sense of greater space and openness.
With such a modest floor area, it was important not only to visually expand the apartment but also to keep it from getting cluttered. So, the owner asked that the architect allocate a place for every item.
In the hallway there is only room for a small coat rack, while the main storage facilities are hidden under the staircase. The closet features pull-out sections, which the architect considers to be the best solution for a small area.
Check out these design tricks for hallways
In the hallway there is only room for a small coat rack, while the main storage facilities are hidden under the staircase. The closet features pull-out sections, which the architect considers to be the best solution for a small area.
Check out these design tricks for hallways
The home’s weak old walls posed the biggest challenge for this project. All the items and furniture that would normally be attached to a wall had to be fitted with their own supports. The bookcase, for example, had to be supported by a stainless-steel frame, because the walls would not have been able to withstand the load.
Nemati was also faced with the possibility of having to totally redo the water and heating systems. “The biggest challenge was handling all the nuances associated with the sewage pipes. These issues had to be resolved with the local housing and communal authorities and with the neighbours, which took a lot of time,” Nemati says.
Nemati was also faced with the possibility of having to totally redo the water and heating systems. “The biggest challenge was handling all the nuances associated with the sewage pipes. These issues had to be resolved with the local housing and communal authorities and with the neighbours, which took a lot of time,” Nemati says.
The bookcase includes a niche for folding chairs. This was a great solution for two reasons: First, the extra seats are great to have when there are guests, and this keeps them out of the way; and second, the bookcase is wider than the space between the window and the wall, so it would have otherwise partially covered the glass.
Pictured: Architect Alireza Nemati
The constructivist architects who designed this building would probably never have guessed that future tenants would be preparing meals inside their own apartments – originally, all residents were expected to use communal facilities. As a result, the kitchen setup was another challenge for Nemati.
The kitchen he came up with is designed like a spaceship cabin: Every inch was thought out and measured. Hidden behind folding doors, it includes dedicated storage for every need, from a ventilated box for vegetables to a narrow drawer to hold household chemicals. A refrigerator and pull-out table are hidden under the countertop.
Take a look at these cleverly hidden kitchen storage units
The constructivist architects who designed this building would probably never have guessed that future tenants would be preparing meals inside their own apartments – originally, all residents were expected to use communal facilities. As a result, the kitchen setup was another challenge for Nemati.
The kitchen he came up with is designed like a spaceship cabin: Every inch was thought out and measured. Hidden behind folding doors, it includes dedicated storage for every need, from a ventilated box for vegetables to a narrow drawer to hold household chemicals. A refrigerator and pull-out table are hidden under the countertop.
Take a look at these cleverly hidden kitchen storage units
In the photo: The kitchen area is equipped with functional storage spaces
The worktop in the kitchen is oak veneer covered with a waterproof varnish, and the backsplash features a waterproof paint. The wet zone is covered with marble. Nemati designed the oak drying rack himself: The water flows directly back into the sink.
Finding a hood of the right size was not easy, so the architect designed that himself as well. It was made through a 3D-printing technology and metal forming. He equipped it with a powerful but compact and silent motor.
Lamp: by Fritz Hansen; paint by Tikkurila
Finding a hood of the right size was not easy, so the architect designed that himself as well. It was made through a 3D-printing technology and metal forming. He equipped it with a powerful but compact and silent motor.
Lamp: by Fritz Hansen; paint by Tikkurila
Next to the kitchen is a unit that houses a washing machine, laundry basket and cleaning materials. There is also a closet here with a hidden sliding rail, which can be used to put up a curtain to separate the bedroom and shower room from the living room, for coziness and privacy.
The extremely simple bedroom, which is used exclusively for sleeping, was decorated in shades of white. It is joined to an en suite shower area.
The large amount of glass in the shower area gives it an open feel. The entrance is a glass door, and the round window inside frames a view of the city.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This Filmmaker’s Home is a Museum of Her Works
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Tell us in the Comments below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: This Filmmaker’s Home is a Museum of Her Works
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Tell us in the Comments below.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A man with a passion for constructivist architecture
Location: Gogol Boulevard, Moscow, Russia
Size: 33 square meters (about 355 square feet)
Architect: Alireza Nemati of Studio Bazi